REVISITING THE GUILD BUS TRIP SHOPS BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
by Nola Bicknell

Note Feb 2010: this article is now old, you should contact shops to make sure the ARE still there !!!

Congratulations to Judy Bubb for organising a fabulous trip, and giving us the opportunity to see the impressive inaugural quilt exhibition of Bay Quilters Inc. Some of the places we visited were new to me and some I had visited previously, but it was great to fit all these places into one day.

For bus trippers who would like to revisit some of these shops without driving to Melbourne, previous knowledge, business cards and a little research in Melways, the phone book and Melbourne's Public Transport Map have yielded the following information. (If there are any discrepancies in bus routes it is because my public transport map is three years old.)

Book & Pattern Services, 211 Bay Street, Brighton.

Note Feb 2010: now called Can Do Books with new address: 608 Burwood Rd Hawthorn.
Ph: 9596 8742. Internet: www.candobooks.com.au

Open M - F and Sat am. This is the book shop that appears regularly at craft shows in Melbourne. They have a good range of craft books, as well as gardening, photography and a variety of other topics. Prices are always very competitive and there are extra discounts from time to time. You can enrol to receive monthly catalogues. Mail order is possible, but I prefer to look at books of interest before selecting what to buy, so I have been here many times. If you like to browse before you buy, leave yourself plenty of time

Directions to get to old Brighton address omitted !!

The Embroidery Den, 357 Bay Street, Brighton.
Ph: 9596 5389. Internet: www.embroideryden.com.au

From North Brighton station walk away from the sea on the left of Bay Street for about five minutes. There seems to be a good range of threads of various fibres and sewing accessories. I have heard that there is a button shop further along the street on the same side.

Amitie, 281 Centre Road, Bentleigh.
Ph: 9557 8551. Internet: www.amitie.com.au

Open M - F 9.30 - 5.00, Sat 9.30 - 3.00. A short walk from Bentleigh station on the Frankston line, towards the sea on RHS of the street. I have been here twice previously. A spacious shop, recommended for a large range of fabrics, many of which I have not seen elsewhere.

Primitive Patches, 119 Lwr Dandenong Road, Mentone.
Ph: 9583 4455.

Open M F 9.30 - 4.00, Sat 9.30 - 3.00. (This shop had a stall at the Bay Quilters exhibition.) The shop is a very long walk from Mentone station on the Frankston line. I recommend you take the 811 or 812 bus from the station, although I am not sure where it departs. Well after crossing Nepean Hwy, look out for Coolabah Street on LHS, or Ivy Street on RHS. The shop is close to the nearest bus stop, on the LHS of the street. It has a lot of fabric in two crowded rooms. Again, many of the prints I have not seen elsewhere.

Carmels Fabrics & Haberdashery, 11 - 13 Como Parade West, Mentone.
Ph: 9583 5009. Internet: www.carmelsfabrics.com.au

Open M - W & F 9.00 - 5.15, Th 9.00 - 7.00, Sat 9.00 - 3.30. There is a Como Parade East on the other side of the railway line. You want the seaward side. The shop is very close to Mentone station on the Frankston line. It has over 3000 bolts of patchwork fabrics, as well as quilting accessories and batting, beads, buttons, dress, dance and furnishing fabrics, haberdashery, etc. They also have a boutique a few doors along the street with bridal and other glamorous fabrics. You can join their club and receive occasional newsletters and discounts. I have been a few times previously.

Somerset Patchwork & Quilting, 491 High Street Road, Mt. Waverley.
 Ph: 9807 3399. Internet:  www.somersetpatchwork.com.au 

The 734 bus which runs between Glen Iris and Glen Waverley stations runs along High Street Road. Judging by the street number, I think the shop is somewhere between Stephensons Road and Blackburn Road, on the LHS if coming from Glen Iris.

Sunspun, 185 Canterbury Road, Canterbury.
Ph: 9830 1609. Internet: www.sunspun.com.au

The shop is in Canterbury Village, near Canterbury station. Please refer to the street directory. Mainly yarns and pattern books, and a wall of Kaffe Fassett patchwork fabrics

I hope you will find this useful.

Nola Bicknell
March 2008